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Warmest regards,
Devin Kimura
President, Artbeads.com

New! Czech fire-polished glass beads!Faceted fire-polish glass beads from the Czech Republic are a staple item for every beader's bead box. Choose from a large selection of beautiful colors in either 4mm or 6mm lengths. They are sold in packs of 50 beads each. To purchase, click on the photo to the right or go to the Glass Beads section of the web site and click on Czech Fire Polish Beads.

Save on silver domed message pendant- FAITHFor a limited time and while supplies last, get our sterling silver dome-shaped message pendant that says "Faith" (DMP-FAITH) for only $1.99 each! This offer is ONLY for orders placed directly from our Weekly Special page on our web site, and is only valid until 1pm (Pacific time), April 16, 2004. To purchase, click on the photo to the right or go to the Weekly Special page of the web site.

Price adjustmentsDuring the past year, and particularly over the past several months, the price of silver has skyrocketed from about $4.50 a year ago to over $8 per ounce at the current market. At Artbeads.com, we hoped that prices would revert back to last year’s levels and have thus held our prices firm even as our manufacturers have been steadily raising their prices. However, with silver now expected to reach $10 per ounce, we regrettably will be raising prices on many of our sterling silver products over the next several weeks. This was not an easy decision for us to make, as we know that many of you are on a tight budget. We hope that you can understand, and we promise that we will lower our prices once silver prices return to more reasonable levels.

Mother's Day is May 9th!Celebrate motherhood this year by making something special! Whether its for your mother, a mother you know, or for yourself, we have everything you need to make that perfect gift. Be creative using our exquisite Swarovski crystals, Bali silver, glass beads, or sterling silver charms. For one idea, see the example below or go to the Ideas section of our web site for many more.

Mother's BraceletThis lovely bracelet will show how proud you are to be a mom, by having your children's names with you wherever you go! To learn how to make it, go to the Ideas section of our web site and click on "Mother's Bracelet" or just click on the photo above to go directly to the example on the web site.

Q: What is a fire-polished bead?

A: Fire-polished beads start out as regular glass beads. They are then
machine faceted, which leaves sharp facet edges. To smooth them out, they
are heated in a kiln or oven until the edges soften. The result is a
beautiful, faceted, crystal-like bead. Our fire-polished beads are all
made in the Czech republic, which is the most reputable source for glass beads.